Softball, Lacrosse Face Big Tests -- SATURDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

SOFTBALL SQUARES OFF VS. SEMINOLES

The University of Louisville Softball squad will miss Thunder over Louisville festivities today on the Ohio River but they hope to make a little noise on their own when they start the three game series against FSU down in Tallahassee this afternoon. 

The Seminoles are ranked either 8th (ESPN) or 10th (USA Today) in the nation, according to which poll you follow and will host Louisville for a 1 p.m. game today. FSU is 36-8 on the season and have won the last five meetings with Louisville. 

The Cards come into the contest with a 11-7 win over Indiana on Wednesday in Bloomington. The recent rejuvenated Louisville bats will be put to the test against a FSU pitching staff that held Boston College to just four runs in a three game set last time out. 

The festivities will be available on the ACC Network Extra today and tomorrow, ESPNU carries the contest Monday.  As always, game times are always subject to change depending on any impending weather in the area. 

Our Jared Anderson is in Tallahassee and will attend the first two contests. We'll catch up with him today via phone on the CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR for his thoughts on Noles vs. Cards. 


LACROSSE TRAVELS TO SYRACUSE

If Floyd Street, on the UofL campus, seems a little less crowded today...it's because the Lacrosse team is also out of town and will miss Thunder Live to face Syracuse in the final regular season game of the year. 

The Orange are in a similar predicament as Scott Teeter's squad.  They haven't won a contest in ACC play either this season, so it'll be a battle for the basement...so to speak in the Carrier Dome.

It's homecoming for Otto the Orange's bunch, so they'll have a bit of momentum in that regard.  The 'Cuse dropped a 13-12 contest against Boston College last time out in Chestnut Hill. They've managed a 8-8 record on the season but are on a three game losing streak. Surprisingly, they are ranked #19 in the nation...a testament to just how strong ACC women's lacrosse is. 

For the Cards, it's a matter of just sealing the deal and finishing strong. Louisville was tied with Virginia 8-8 last week in the L.L.S. early in the second half before watching the Wakoos go on a 6-0 run and eventually taking the match 18-10. Thhe Cards are 6-9 on the season. 

Louisville did down the Orange last year out at the "Ellis" 9-8. It was their first win ever against Syracuse...failing the previous seven times. 

Cardinal Freshman Caroline Blalock (one of the Blalock sistahs) was recently named IL Women's Lacrosse National Rookie of the Week, based in part on her four goal effort against UVA. 

Both teams will open ACC Tournament play on Thursday at Duke...one of them hoping to have the momentum of a one game winning streak.


THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR

It'll be like a return to the early days of the broadcast history today as Jeff and I will be the two lone hosts for the 11 a.m. broadcast. We've gotten spoiled, maybe with three or four voices each week to pontificate and predict. 

With Case studying for Engineering exams and Jared down in the Sunshine State  -- plus three guests I invited to sit in either out-of-town or with prior commitments -- you'll get the "stripped down" version of the "A" team on Facebook Live. Two knuckleheads with the promise of a third via phone. 

"The knuckleheads make me laugh!"

(Don't worry..."stripped down is just a descriptive metaphor...we promise we'll have our clothes on and they'll remain on..) 

Jared Anderson, as mentioned above, will call in to brag about the Florida weather, probably take a picture of himself while talking to us and maybe even reveal the highly secret and clandestine motive behind his travels to Jazmine Jones' hometown. 

We'll have plenty of items to discuss and give you Worldwide's infamous scheduling and Twitter segment...which has gotten quite a bit of national recognition and commentary from people who despise the term "um..." in spoken language. Hey, we all do it. Some are better at it than others. 

Join us, won't you?     www.wchqfm.com


paulie
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